Portable-type information apparatus

• US 6,804,113 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hidesawa, Shigeru, Kambayashi, Ko
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/397,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 361/656, 361/659, 320/137, 307/150, 439/638, 439/133, 439/650-654, 340/711, 340/700, 340/784, 429/96, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 429/123, D14/314, D14/107, D14/128, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 361/679.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals

Abstract

A notebook type personal computer has a common connector detachably connected to a mating connector of a connection unit, or replicator, which further has plural connectors affording detachable connections to plural peripheral units. One or more fastener units, carried by the connector unit, provide for detachably but rigidly affixing the connector unit to the notebook type personal computer. An alternative connector box accommodates one or more batteries while affording connections through the common connector and the plural first connectors to peripheral units and yet another alternative connector box houses only batteries and is connectable through a mating connector to the common connector of the personal computer to afford extended operating time.

Claims

1. A connector unit detachably connectable to an information apparatus having a first connector, said connector unit comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of connectors on said housing for extension of said information apparatus;

a second connector on said housing corresponding to, and connectable to, the first connector on said information apparatus;

two fixing members affixing said connector unit to said information apparatus, said two fixing members being arranged on said connector unit such that said second connector is positioned in a region between said two fixing members; and

a holding part in said housing to hold a battery.

2. The connector unit of claim 1, wherein said battery is rechargeable.

3. The connector unit of claim 1, wherein said battery supplies electric power to said information apparatus.

4. The connector unit of claim 3, wherein the electric power is supplied from said battery to said information apparatus through said second connector.

5. The connector unit of claim 1, wherein said second connector is arranged on one side, and said plurality of connectors are arranged on an opposite side, of said housing.

6. The connector unit of claim 1, wherein said second connector is a single common connector.

7. The connector unit of claim 1, wherein said fixing members of said connector unit comprise fasteners.

8. An information apparatus, comprising:

a body having a main circuit board arranged therein and having a first connector thereon; and

a connector unit detachably connectable to said body and comprising;

a plurality of connectors for extension of said information apparatus,

a second connector corresponding to, and connectable to, the first connector on the body,

two fixing members affixing said connector unit to said information apparatus, said two fixing members being arranged on said connector unit such that said second connector is positioned in a region between said two fixing members, and

a holding part to hold a battery.

9. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said battery is rechargeable.

10. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said battery supplies electric power to said body.

11. The information apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electric power is supplied from said battery to said body through said second connector.

12. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second connector is arranged on one side of said connector unit, and said plurality of connectors are arranged on an opposite side of said connector unit.

13. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second connector is a single common connector.

14. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said fixing members of said connector unit comprise fasteners.

15. The information apparatus of claim 8, wherein said body comprises a notebook type personal computer.

16. An information apparatus detachably connectable to plural peripheral devices, comprising:

a body having a main circuit board therein and a first common connector having plural sets of connection terminals therein, each set being designated for connection to a respective said peripheral unit; and

a connector unit detachably connectable to said body and comprising;

a holding part to hold a battery,

a plurality of connectors on a first portion of said connector unit, each of the plurality of connectors having a set of terminals therein designated for connection to a respective peripheral unit,

a second common connector on a second portion of said connector unit, the second common connector having plural sets of connection terminals therein respectively corresponding to the plural sets of connection terminals of the first common connector and detachably connectable thereto, each set of terminals of the second common connector being electrically connected to the respective set of connection terminals of a corresponding connector on the first portion of the connector unit, and

two fixing members detachably affixing the connector unit to the information apparatus body, the two fixing members being arranged on the connector unit such that the second common connector is positioned in a region of the second portion of the connector unit between the two fixing members.

17. An information apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the first and second portions of the connector unit comprise spaced forward and rearward sidewalls; and

the two fixing members extend from the connector unit beyond the forward sidewall thereof for engaging corresponding engaging elements in the rear wall of the body of the information apparatus.

18. An information apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the second common connector is positioned between the two fixing members.

19. An information apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the plurality of connectors on the first portion of the connector unit are positioned between the two fixing members.